Curved Mine Roof and Rib Support

ABSTRACT

A mine roof and rib support includes a curved support member comprising a roof support arm and a rib support arm with a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm and an aperture defined through the support member for receiving a mine roof bolt. A bearing plate having an upper edge and a lower edge, and a through-hole provided therebetween can be provided wherein the upper and lower edges are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms, respectively. Also, a mine roof and rib support may include a curved support member comprising a roof support arm and a rib support arm and a curved junction portion between the roof and rib support arms, wherein the roof support arm defines the aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt that may extend substantially vertically through the through-hole and the roof support arm aperture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The support member relates generally to mine surface control, and more particularly to a mine roof and rib support with a roof support arm and a rib support arm which simultaneously support the mine roof and mine rib.

Mine roof and rib supports are commonly used in underground mining, excavating, and tunneling operations to support and control the overhead and lateral rock strata. In one conventional mine surface control system, a series of bore holes can be drilled into the mine roof or rib, a mine roof bolt can be installed in the bore hole, a channel, bearing plate, or mat can be positioned between the end of the mine roof bolt and the mine roof or rib, and the mine roof bolt can be anchored in the bore hole and tensioned such that the mine roof bolt and channel, bearing plate, or mat exert a compressive force upon the mine roof and rib to prevent deterioration of the overhead and lateral rock strata. A flange may be provided on at least one of the roof support arm and the rib support arm projecting toward the mine roof or rib.

Some examples of mine roof and rib support systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,405 to Galis entitled “Mine Roof Truss Assembly and Associated Method”; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,433; 5,202,209; and RE 35,902 to Calandra, Jr. et al. entitled “Bearing Plate’; U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,348 to Seegmiller entitled “Truss Systems, Components, and Methods for Trussing Arched Mine Roofs”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,266 to Seegmiller entitled “Structure and Method for Deterring Cuter Roof Failure”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,974 to Sherman entitled “Roof Support System for a Mine and Method for Providing the Same”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the mine roof and rib support device generally includes a support member may include a roof support arm and a rib support arm, and a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm. An aperture defined through the support member for receiving a mine roof bolt is located at the curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm. The support member may be bent to form the roof support arm, rib support arm, and curved junction portion. The support member may include a base portion and an elongated reinforcement portion extending from the base portion and, alternatively, longitudinal edge portions extending angularly away from the base portion and terminating in edges. The aperture may be defined in the elongated reinforcement portion. The elongated reinforcement portion may be an embossment extending from a front surface of the support arm, for example a rib. This embodiment may also include a bearing plate having an upper edge and a lower edge, and defining a through-hole between the upper and lower plate edges, wherein the upper and lower plate edges are positioned in abutment with the roof support arm and rib support arm. A mine roof bolt may be included, wherein the bearing plate through-hole is operatively aligned with the curved junction portion aperture of the support member with the mine roof bolt extending therethrough.

In yet another embodiment, a method of supporting a rock formation includes positioning a support member including a roof support arm and rib support arm and a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm against an arched rock formation, wherein the curved junction portion defines an aperture therethrough. The roof support arm is positioned against a mine roof surface, the rib support arm is positioned against a mine rib surface, and the curved junction portion is positioned to align with the natural curvature of the arched rock formation. A bearing plate having an upper edge and a lower edge and defining a through-hole between the upper and lower plate edges is positioned against the support member such that the curved junction aperture of the support arm is operatively aligned with the plate through-hole. A mine roof bolt is extended through the plate through-hole and the curved junction portion aperture into engagement with the arched rock formation. The bearing plate is then compressed against the support member to maintain the support member in contact with the arched rock formation, such that the upper edge of the bearing plate is positioned in abutment with the roof support arm and the lower edge of the bearing plate is positioned in abutment with the rib support arm. Compressing the bearing plate against the support member may include torquing the mine roof bolt against the bearing plate. A mesh mat may also be positioned between the arched rock formation and the support member such that the support member contacts the mesh mat to maintain the mesh mat in contact with the arched rock formation. In this embodiment, the mine roof bolt may extend substantially vertically through the through-hole and the roof support arm aperture.

Another embodiment of the mine roof and rib support may include a support member having a roof support arm and a rib support arm, and a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm, wherein the roof support arm defines an aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt. A bearing plate having an upper edge and a lower edge, the bearing plate defining a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges is positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms, respectively, with the through-hole being operatively aligned with the roof support arm aperture. A mine roof bolt extends through the through-hole of the bearing plate and the roof support arm aperture. The mine roof bolt is configured to compress the bearing plate against the support member, wherein the upper edge exerts a force against the roof support arm and the lower edge exerts a force against the rib support arm. The support member may include a second aperture on the roof support arm for receiving a second mine roof bolt. A second support member having a front surface and a back surface and defining an aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt may then be positioned over and received by the first support member with the second support member aperture being aligned with the second roof support arm aperture. A second mine roof bolt may then extend through the second support member aperture and the second roof support arm aperture. Both the first and second mine roof bolts may extend substantially vertically through their respective apertures. The rib support arm may also define an aperture for receiving a mine rib bolt, wherein the mine rib bolt extends through the rib support arm aperture in the mine rib.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the mine roof and rib support device are described in the following description and drawing figures. These aspects may be indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the mine roof and rib support device may be employed, and which is intended to include all such aspects and any equivalents thereof. Other advantages and features of the mine roof and rib support may become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the mine roof and rib support can be obtained by considering the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mine roof and rib support device;

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating embodiments of mine roof and rib support devices installed at the intersection of the mine roof and opposite sides/ribs of a mine work area;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a support member of the mine roof and rib support device;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the support member shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the support member shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the support member shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a support member.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a mine roof and rib support;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the support member shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the support member shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the support member taken at line A-A in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the support member shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mine roof and rib support;

FIG. 15 is an alternative perspective view of the mine roof and rib support of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of mine roof and rib supports according to FIG. 14; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a mine roof and rib support system using the mine roof and rib support of FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference numbers refer to like elements, a perspective view of an embodiment of a mine roof and rib support device 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which can generally comprise a support member 15 having a roof support arm 20 and a rib support arm 25, wherein the roof support arm 20 is provided at an angle to the rib support arm 25, and an aperture 30 (shown best in FIG. 3) through the support member 15 for receiving a mine roof bolt 35, the aperture 30 located adjacent a junction between, or an intersection of, the roof support arm 20 and the rib support arm 25. The support member 15 can further comprise a flange 45 provided on one or both of the roof support arm 20 and the rib support arm 25, wherein the flange 45 projects toward a mine roof 50 or rib 55. In a further embodiment, flanges 45, 47 are provided at distal ends 60, 65 of both the roof support arm 20 and the rib support arm 25.

The angle θ between the roof 20 and rib 25 support arms can generally be about 90 degrees, since the angle α between the mine roof 50 and mine rib 55 is typically about 90 degrees. However, the angle θ between the arms 20, 25 can vary as needed, or desired, depending upon the angle between the mine roof 50 and the rib 55. Moreover, the angle α between the mine roof 50 and rib 55 may not be exactly 90 degrees, and the mine roof 50 and/or rib 55 may likely not be perfectly flat. Thus, embodiments of the support member 15 can be sufficiently flexible to compensate for variations in the angle α of the roof 50 and rib 55, and/or variations due to non-planar surfaces of the roof 50 and/or rib 55.

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, the flanges 45, 47 at the ends of the roof and rib support arms 20, 25 can be bent from the distal ends 60, 65 of each of the roof and rib support arms 20, 25. In particular, for example, portions of the distal ends 60, 65 of each arm 20, 25 can be cut away to leave a tab, or extension, which can be bent to form the flanges 45, 47. The flanges 45, 47 can be bent toward the roof 50, or rib 55, as the flanges 45, 47 are intended to hold a mat, e.g., a metal mesh 70, in cases where such mesh 70 is used in combination with the roof support arm 20 and/or rib support arm 25.

Embodiments of the mine roof and rib support device 10 can further comprise a bearing plate 75 having an upper edge 80 and a lower edge 85, and a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges 80, 85 through which the roof bolt 35 is installed. The bearing plate 75 can be positioned adjacent the support member 15 such that the upper and lower edges 80, 85 of the bearing plate 75 are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms 20, 25, respectively. When the through-hole in the bearing plate 75 is operatively aligned with the aperture 30 in the support member 15 for installation of the roof bolt 35 therethrough, the upper and lower edges 80, 85 will apply force to the roof and rib support arms 20, 25, respectively, when force is applied to the bearing plate 75 during installation of the roof bolt 35. The roof bolt 35 can be installed at a 45 degree angle, but could be installed at a different angle if desired. When the mine roof bolt 35 is torqued against the outer surface of the bearing plate 75, a compressive load is applied to the bearing plate 75. The compressive load is distributed throughout the edges of the bearing plate 75. The compressive load is transmitted from the edges of the bearing plate 75 to the roof support arm 20 and the rib support arm 25, respectively, to compress the support arms 20, 25 against the roof 50 and rib 55 of the mine tunnel. The compressive forces cause the roof support arm 20 to exert pressure against the mine roof 50 and the rib support arm 25 to exert pressure against the mine rib 55.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating how the mine roof and rib support device 10 may be installed at each side of the mine tunnel. Because the bearing plate 75 can distribute the force from the roof bolt 35 to each of the roof and rib support arms 20, 25, a single roof bolt 35 can be used for each support member 15 to simultaneously provide support for both the mine roof 50 and the mine rib 55. The arrows 90, 95 in the drawing show the force vectors created by torquing the roof bolt 35 against the bearing plate 75.

FIGS. 3 through 6 illustrate further details of the support member 15, including the back surface of the support member shown in FIG. 3. As shown, the support member 15 can be made from a metal channel having a C-shaped cross-section. The metal channel can be bent to form each of the roof and rib support arms 20, 25. Each arm 20, 25 can generally be the same length, but each arm 20, 25 could have a different length if desired. Certain embodiments of the support member 15 can be made from standard four (4) inch “C” channel steel with ¼ inch back wall thickness. The side walls of the channel can be split, or notched, adjacent the bend line, i.e., where the channel will be bent to form the roof and rib support arms 20, 25 at generally 90 degrees to each other. The notch facilitates not only bending the channel to form the roof and rib support arms 20, 25, but also permits the arms 20, 25 some freedom of movement away from each other when the support member 15 is bolted to the mine roof 50. The bearing plate 75 will provide the support, similar to a brace, to resist movement of the roof and rib support arms 20, 25 towards each other subsequent to installation of the roof bolt 35. The channel can be heated to facilitate the bending process.

One manner of creating the flanges 45, 47 is to cut tabs at the distal end 60, 65, typically of both the roof and rib support arms 20, 25, and then bend the tabs outwardly, away form the back of the channel, i.e., towards the mine roof and rib 50, 55, to form the flanges, 45, 47 to engage the mesh 70 that is commonly disposed over the mine roof and rib 50, 55, under the support member 15.

In certain embodiments, the dimensions corresponding to the reference characters in FIGS. 4 through 6 can be, for example, as listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Dimensions Inches A 24 B 24 C 4 D 1.5 E 1.5 F 0.65

The exemplary embodiments shown can comprise an elongated metal structural support member having a C-shaped cross-section that will typically be bent from a single length of material, and could instead be two separate pieces of material which are, e.g., welded together.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Mine roof and rib support device 100 includes a support member 102 having a roof support arm 120 and a rib support arm 125, wherein the roof support arm 120 is provided at an angle to the rib support arm 125. The angle between the roof and rib support arms 120, 125 can generally be about 90 degrees. However, the angle can vary as needed, or desired as described above in regard to support member 15. An aperture 130 is defined in support member 102 for receiving a mine roof bolt 35, the aperture located adjacent a junction between, or an intersection of, the roof support arm 120 and the rib support arm 125.

Support member 102 includes a base portion 104 having a front surface 106 and a back surface 108. Integrally formed longitudinal flanges 110, 111 extend from base portion 104, such as at an angle, and terminate at respective edges 112, 113. Support member 102 further includes a reinforcement portion 114 extending from the base portion 104. Reinforcement portion 114 is illustrated as being positioned centrally on the support member 102 with aperture 130 defined therein and having a general V-shape, thereby forming a rib. The height of reinforcement portion 114 may be approximately equal to the height of longitudinal flanges 110, 111.

The mine roof and rib support device 100 may further include a bearing plate 175 having an upper edge 180 and a lower edge 185, and a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges 180, 185 through which the roof bolt 35 is installed. Bearing plate 175 is shown as having a donut-style configuration with a reinforcing portion or embossment 190 surrounding the through-hole. The bearing plate 175 can be positioned adjacent the support member 102 such that the upper and lower edges 180, 185 of the bearing plate 175 are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms 120, 125, respectively. In one embodiment, upper and lower edges 180, 185 each abut longitudinal flanges 110, 111 and reinforcement portion 114. When the through-hole in the bearing plate 75 is operatively aligned with the aperture 130 in the support member 102 for installation of the roof bolt 35 therethrough, the upper and lower edges 180, 185 will apply force to the roof and rib support arms 120, 125, respectively, when force is applied to the bearing plate 175 during installation of the roof bolt 35. The roof bolt 35 is installed at a 45 degree angle and may be installed at different angles. When the mine roof bolt 35 is tightened against the outer surface of the bearing plate 175, a compressive load is applied to the bearing plate 175. The compressive load is distributed throughout the edges of the bearing plate 175. The compressive load is transmitted from the edges of the bearing plate 175 to the roof support arm 120 and the rib support arm 125, respectively, to compress the support arms 120, 125 against the roof 50 and rib 55 of the mine tunnel. The compressive forces cause the roof support arm 120 to exert pressure against the mine roof 50 and the rib support arm 125 to exert pressure against the mine rib 55.

In one embodiment, support member 102 is produced from an elongated channel member which is bent to form roof support arm 120 and rib support arm 125. At the location of the bend, longitudinal flanges 110, 111 may become deformed as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The support member 102 may be configured to be stackable for ease of transport by including angled longitudinal flanges 110, 111, the front surface 106 of one support member 102 may receive at least a portion of a back surface 108 of another support member 102. While the entire front surface 106 of one support member 102 may not completely receive the entire back surface 108 of another support member 102, the support members may nest within each other, thereby reducing the overall footprint of multiple stacked support members as compared to multiple unstackable support members 15.

The support member 102 may include flanges 145, 147 provided on one or both of the ends of the respective roof support arm 120 and the rib support arm 125, wherein the flanges 145, 147 project toward the mine roof 50 or rib 55. A wire of mesh 70 may be positioned behind support arm 120 and over flange 145 in order to hold mesh 70 against the roof 50. Similarly, a wire of mesh 70 may be positioned behind rib support arm 125 and over flange 147 in order to hold mesh 70 against the rib 55.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9-13, as in the embodiments described above, a mine roof and rib support device 200 includes a support member 202 having a roof support arm 220 and a rib support arm 225, wherein the roof support arm 220 is provided at an angle to the rib support arm 225. Again, as described above, the angle between the roof and rib support arms 220, 225 can generally be about 90 degrees, or can vary as needed, or desired. Also, aperture 130 is defined in support member 202 for receiving a mine roof bolt 35, the aperture located adjacent a junction between, or an intersection of, the roof support arm 220 and the rib support arm 225. However, the junction 240 between the roof support arm 220 and the rib support arm 225 is curved, as opposed to being a more sharply defined angle, as shown in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7. Although the terms roof support arm and rib support arm are used in the present description, it is to be understood that each of roof and rib support arms 220, 225 may not take the form of a straightened arm. Support member 202 is continuously curved with roof and rib support arms 220, 225 being those portions of the curved support member 202 that contact mine roof 250 and rib 255. The curved configuration of support member 202 conforms to the contour of the intersection of mine roof 250 and rib 255 when the mine roof 250 and rib 255 are cut into the rock strata with a radius leaving an arched mine passageway. By arched, it is meant a mine tunnel or passageway that has some variation in the relationship between mine roof 250 and mine rib 255 due to unevenness of the rock strata, which may include at least a partial arch configuration of the rock between the roof 250 and rib 255, e.g., a mine tunnel or passageway with a non-square, radial, rounded, and/or curved intersection between mine roof 250 and mine rib 255, and/or a mine roof 250 and mine rib 255 without a discretely defined angle therebetween. Additionally, although the terms mine roof and rib are used herein, it is to be understood that an arched mine passageway may not have a discretely defined mine roof and mine rib. Mine roof and rib 250, 255 are used herein to refer generally to the arched mine passageway in generally upward and lateral directions, respectively.

As in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the support member 202, as shown in FIGS. 9-13, may include a base portion 104 having a front surface 106 and a back surface 108. Integrally formed longitudinal flanges 110, 111 may extend from base portion 104 at an angle and terminate at respective edges 112, 113. Curved support member 202 further includes a reinforcement portion 114 extending from the base portion 104. Reinforcement portion 114 is illustrated as being positioned centrally on the curved support member 202 with aperture 130 defined therein and having a general V-shape, thereby forming a rib. The height of reinforcement portion 114 may be approximately equal to the height of longitudinal flanges 110, 111.

The mine roof and rib support device 200 may, again, further include a bearing plate 175 having an upper edge 180 and a lower edge 185, and a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges 180, 185 through which the roof bolt 35 is installed. Bearing plate 175 is shown as having a donut-style configuration with a reinforcing portion or embossment 190 surrounding the through-hole. The bearing plate 175 can be positioned adjacent the curved support member 202 such that the upper and lower edges 180, 185 of the bearing plate 175 are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms 220, 225, respectively. In this embodiment, the bearing plate 175, roof bolt 35, and curved support member 202 function in substantially the same way as described with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8 by applying a compressive load to the bearing plate 175, which is distributed throughout the edges 180, 185 and to the roof support arm 220 and the rib support arm 225, respectively, to compress the support arms 220, 225 against the roof 250 and rib 255 of the mine tunnel, thereby exerting pressure against the mine roof 250 and rib 255. However, in an arched mine passageway having, for example, a radius between the roof 250 and rib 255, the curvature of junction 240 between the roof support arm 220 and rib support arm 225 more accurately conforms to the curvature between mine roof 250 and rib 255, and the compressive load exerted by mine bolt 35 and bearing plate 175 will be more evenly distributed to mine roof 250 and rib 255.

The curved support member 202 may be produced from an elongated channel member which is bent to form roof support arm 220 and rib support arm 225. Unlike the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the longitudinal flanges 110, 111 may not be deformed at curved junction 240. However, the curved support member 202 may be configured to be stackable for ease of transport as described above with reference to support member 102.

Also, like the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8, the curved support member 202 of FIGS. 9-13, may include flanges 145, 147 provided on one or both of the ends of the respective roof support arm 220 and rib support arm 225, wherein the flanges 145, 147 project toward the mine roof 250 or rib 255 with a wire mesh 70 positioned behind support arm 220 and over flange 145, in order to hold wire mesh 70 against the roof 250. Similarly, a wire mesh 70 may be positioned behind rib support arm 225 and over flange 147 in order to hold wire mesh 70 against the rib 255.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, another embodiment of a mine roof and rib support device 200 may include curved support member 202 having roof support arm 220 and rib support arm 225 with curved junction 240 therebetween. Again, the support member 202 can further include flanges 145, 147 provided on one or both of the ends of the respective roof support arm 220 and rib support arm 125, wherein the flanges 145, 147 project toward the mine roof 250 or rib 255 with a wire mesh 70 positioned behind support arm 220 and over flange 145 in order to hold wire mesh 70 against the roof 250. However, in FIGS. 14 and 15, an aperture 230 for receiving mine roof bolt 35 is defined in roof support arm 220 (best illustrated in FIG. 15), as opposed to being defined at the junction 240 between roof support arm 220 and rib support arm 225, as illustrated in FIGS. 7-13 in the above-described embodiments. Also, the mine roof support arm 220 may optionally comprise a second aperture 232 for receiving a second mine roof bolt 38, and the rib support arm 225 may comprise an aperture 236 for receiving a mine rib bolt 37, as shown in FIG. 17. The terms mine roof, mine rib, roof support arm, and rib support, as used here, are to be understood to be defined as described with respect to FIGS. 9-13.

As in the above-described embodiments, the curved support member 202 may include a base portion 104 having a front surface 106 and a back surface 108 with integrally formed longitudinal flanges 110, 111 extending from base portion 104 at an angle and terminating at respective edges 112, 113 and reinforcement portion 114 extending from the base portion 104.

The bearing plate 275, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 17, having an upper edge 280 and lower edge 285, includes a through-hole 288 provided between the upper and lower edges 280, 285 through which the roof bolt 35 is installed. In this embodiment, the bearing plate 275 is shown as having a race track header plate configuration with an embossment 282 surrounding the through-hole 288, wherein the through-hole 288 is in an off-centered position, i.e., located closer to the upper edge 280 of the bearing plate 275 than the lower edge 285. The bearing plate 275 may alternatively include a pair of secondary embossments 283. The bearing plate 275, such as illustrated in FIGS. 14, 15, and 17 and described above, may be a commercially available race track header plate with a pre-existing hole 287. Hole 287 may operate as a through-hole, or, alternatively, a second through-hole 288 may be drilled through bearing plate 275 in any desirable position. The bearing plate 275 is positioned adjacent the curved support member 202 such that the upper and lower edges 280, 285 are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms 220, 225, respectively, with the upper and lower edges 280, 285, abutting longitudinal flanges 110, 111 and/or reinforcement portion 104. When the through-hole 288 of bearing plate 275 is operatively aligned with the aperture 230 of roof support arm 220 for installation of the roof bolt 35 therethrough, the upper and lower edges 280, 285 will apply force to the roof and rib support arms 220, 225, respectively, when force is applied to the bearing plate 275 during installation of roof bolt 35. Unlike the previously discussed embodiments, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14-17, roof support bolt 35 is installed substantially vertically into the mine roof 250 through through-hole 288 and aperture 230. By substantially vertical, it is meant that the roof bolt 35 extends into the mine roof 250, generally perpendicular to the mine roof 250 at the point wherein roof bolt 35 is installed. It should be understood that mine roof 250 may be uneven or somewhat sloping, such that roof bolt 35 may not be parallel to rib 255 or perpendicular to all points along mine roof 250. When the mine roof bolt 35 is torqued against the outer surface of the bearing plate 275, a vertical compressive load at arrow 300 is applied to the bearing plate 275, as illustrated in FIG. 16. The vertical compressive load 300 is distributed throughout the upper and lower edges 280, 285 of bearing plate 275 in both vertical and horizontal directions. The compressive load 300 is transmitted from the edges 280, 285 of the bearing plate 275 to the roof support arm 220 and rib support arm 225, respectively, to compress the support arms 220, 225 against the roof 250 and rib 255 of the mine tunnel. In an annular mine tunnel, the curved junction 240 accurately conforms to the curvature of the mine tunnel, thereby, more evenly distributing the compressive load 300 to roof support arm 120 and rib support arm 125.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates how the mine roof and rib support device 200 may be installed at each side of a mine tunnel. Because the bearing plate 275 can distribute the force from the roof bolt 35 to each of the roof and rib support arms 220, 225 via the upper and lower edges 280, 285 of the bearing plate 275, respectively, a single roof bolt 35 can be used for each support member 202 to simultaneously provide support for both the mine roof 250 and mine rib 255. The force vectors 320, 325 in FIG. 16 show the force created by torquing the roof bolt 35 against the bearing plate 275.

Referring to FIG. 17, a mine roof and rib support device 200 may also be used along with an additional second support member 203, a second roof bolt 38, and rib bolt 37. Support member 203 is a roof support having an aperture 233 defined therethrough. After installing support member 202, as discussed above, second support member 203 may be placed over roof support arm 220 in an overlapping manner. The back surface of second support member 203 may mirror front surface 106 of support member 202, thereby rendering support member 203 easily engageable by roof support arm 220. To overlap second support member 203 and roof support arm 220, the front surface of support member 203 may instead receive the back surface of the roof support arm 220. Aperture 233 may be operatively aligned with second aperture 232 of roof support arm 220, such that a second mine roof bolt 38 is received through apertures 232, 233, thereby providing additional support to mine roof 250 by compressing the second support member 203 and roof support arm 220 against the mine roof 250. One or more support members 203 with mine roof bolts 38 may be installed in an overlapping fashion and likewise engage an opposite roof support arm (not shown) of another mine roof and rib support device, or other structure, thereby, spanning the roof 250. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 17, the mine rib support arm 225 of support member 202 may include an aperture 236 for receiving a mine rib bolt 37 that extends therethrough for providing additional support to mine rib 255 by compressing rib support arm 225 against the mine rib 255. An additional support member 203 with mine rib bolts 37 could be installed in an overlapping fashion with rib support arm 225 to further support mine rib 55.

As used herein, the term “upwardly” shall refer to a direction with respect to a mine passageway which is oriented generally along the direction extending from the mine floor to the mine roof, the term “downwardly” shall refer to a direction with respect to a mine passageway which is oriented generally along the direction extending from the mine roof to the mine floor, the term “outwardly” shall refer to an orientation generally in transverse direction extending from the walls of the passageway to the mine passageway central longitudinal axis, and the term “inwardly” shall refer to an orientation generally in transverse direction extending from the central longitudinal axis of the mine passageway to the walls of the passageway.

Therefore, what has been described above includes exemplary embodiments of a mine roof and rib support having a roof support arm and a rib support arm that can support both the roof and rib of the mine at the same time. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of this description, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that further combinations and permutations are possible in light of the overall teaching of this disclosure. Accordingly, the description provided herein is intended to be illustrative only, and should be considered to embrace any and all alterations, modifications, and/or variations that fall within the spirit ad scope of the appended claims. 

1. A mine roof and rib support comprising: a curved support member comprising a roof support arm and a rib support arm, and a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm; and an aperture defined through the support member for receiving a mine roof bolt.
 2. The mine roof and rib support of claim 1, wherein the aperture located at the curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm.
 3. The mine roof and rib support of claim 1, wherein the aperture is defined in one of the roof support arm and the rib support arm.
 4. The mine roof and rib support of claim 1, wherein the curved support member comprises a base portion and an elongated reinforcement portion extending from the base portion.
 5. The mine roof and rib support of claim 4, wherein the curved support member comprises longitudinal edge portions extending angularly away from the base portion and terminating in edges.
 6. The mine roof and rib support of claim 4, wherein the aperture is defined in the elongated reinforcement portion.
 7. The mine roof and rib support of claim 1, further comprising a flange provided on at least one of the roof support arm and the rib support arm, the flange projecting toward the mine roof or rib.
 8. The mine roof and rib support of claim 1, further comprising a bearing plate, the bearing plate comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, and defining a through-hole positioned between the upper and lower plate edges, wherein the upper and lower plate edges are positioned in abutment with the roof support arm and rib support arm, respectively.
 9. The mine roof and rib support of claim 8, further comprising a mine roof bolt, wherein the bearing plate through-hole is operatively aligned with the aperture of the support member, and the mine roof bolt extends through the bearing plate through-hole and the aperture.
 10. A method of supporting an arched rock formation comprising: positioning a curved support member against an arched rock formation, the curved support member comprising a roof support arm and rib support arm and a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm, the curved support member defining an aperture therethrough, wherein the roof support arm is positioned against a mine roof surface, the rib support arm is positioned against a mine rib surface, and the curved junction portion is positioned to align with the natural curvature of the arched rock formation; positioning a bearing plate having an upper edge and a lower edge and defining a through-hole between the upper and lower plate edges against the support member such that the curved junction aperture of the support arm is operatively aligned with the plate through-hole; extending a mine roof bolt through the bearing plate through-hole and the support member aperture into engagement with the arched rock formation; and compressing the bearing plate against the support member to maintain the support member in contact with the arched rock formation, such that the upper edge of the bearing plate is positioned in abutment with the roof support arm and the lower edge of the bearing plate is positioned in abutment with the rib support arm.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of compressing the bearing plate against the support member comprises torquing the mine roof bolt against the bearing plate.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the support member aperture is defined through one of the roof support arm and the rib support arm.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the support member aperture is defined through the curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm.
 14. A mine roof and rib support comprising: a curved support member comprising a roof support arm and a rib support arm and a curved junction portion between the roof support arm and the rib support arm, wherein the roof support arm defines a first aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt; a bearing plate comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, the bearing plate defining a through-hole provided between the upper and lower edges, wherein the upper and lower plate edges are positioned in abutment with the roof and rib support arms, respectively, the through-hole being operatively aligned with the first roof support arm aperture; and a mine roof bolt extending through the through-hole of the bearing plate and the first roof support arm aperture, the mine roof bolt being configured to compress the bearing plate against the curved support member, wherein the upper edge exerts a force against the roof support arm and the lower edge exerts a force against the rib support arm.
 15. The mine roof and rib support of claim 14, wherein the mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the through-hole and the roof support arm aperture.
 16. The mine roof and rib support of claim 14, wherein the curved support member comprises a second aperture on the roof support arm for receiving a second mine roof bolt.
 17. The mine roof and rib support of claim 16 further comprising: a second support member comprising a front surface and a back surface and defining an aperture for receiving a mine roof bolt, the curved support member receiving the second support member, wherein the second support member aperture is aligned with the second roof support arm aperture; and a second mine roof bolt extending through the second support member aperture and the second roof support arm aperture.
 18. The mine roof and rib support of claim 17, wherein the first mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the through-hole and the first roof support arm aperture, and the second mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the second support member aperture and the second roof support arm aperture.
 19. The mine roof and rib support of claim 17, further comprising a mine rib bolt, and wherein the rib support arm defines an aperture for receiving a mine rib bolt, the mine rib bolt extending through the rib support arm aperture.
 20. The mine roof and rib support of claim 19, wherein the first mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the through-hole and the first roof support arm aperture, and the second mine roof bolt extends substantially vertically through the second support member aperture and the second roof support arm aperture. 